Stop the killing of Australian greyhounds in China

Australian greyhounds need your help now. Hundreds of dogs are being shipped each year to race and die at China's only dog track, the Canidrome.

According to government records, a total of 378 Australian greyhounds were imported to race at the Canidrome in 2012. Over the recommendation of the Australian greyhound industry itself, 160 more greyhounds were exported to Macau in 2013. All greyhounds sent to the track are destroyed once they fail to place in the top three of five consecutive races. There is no adoption program for the dogs, so no greyhound ever leaves the track alive.

From 2010 through 2013, the amount of revenue from greyhound racing steadily declined, from 340 million patacas to 178 million patacas, respectively. While the decline appears to be continuing in 2014, this does not change the fact that no Australian dog survives the Canidrome. Once their usefulness gives way to injury or age, there is no way out for these dogs.

Read more about dog racing and our campaign to close down the Canidrome here.

Now, please join GREY2K USA in contacting the Australian Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce and ask him to place a moratorium on the export of greyhounds to Macau. A joint letter from attorneys for Animals Australia, GREY2K USA Worldwide and Animals Asia was sent to Minister Joyce urging him to join with trade group Animals Australasia in suspending the export of greyhounds to Macau. Read our letter here. Together, we can stop the killing of these gentle dogs.

In 2012, when Irish greyhound breeders petitioned to send greyhounds to China, agricultural officials issued a refusal, warning that the proposal "does not provide sufficient assurance that adequate provision would be made to safeguard the health and welfare of [Irish] greyhounds in China at the end of their racing life." Clearly, the same is true for Australian greyhounds.

Sign our petition to Minister Joyce today and let him know that Australia should join Ireland in stopping this cruel trade. Ask him to save the greyhounds.

Letter to

Australian Minister for AgricultureBarnaby Joyce

I am writing to ask you to prohibit the export of Australian greyhounds to the Chinese peninsula of Macau, specifically to the Canidrome.

According to government records, a total of 378 Australian greyhounds were imported to race at the Canidrome in 2012. Over the recommendation of the Australian greyhound industry itself, 160 more greyhounds were exported to Macau in 2013. All greyhounds sent to the track are destroyed once they fail to place in the top three of five consecutive races. There is no adoption program for the dogs, so no greyhound ever leaves the track alive.

Clearly, Australian greyhounds need protection and the Chinese policy of summarily killing dogs after racing cannot meet your country’s humane standards. Similarly, when Irish greyhound breeders petitioned government to begin importing greyhounds to China for racing, the Department of Agriculture issued a refusal, warning that the proposal "does not provide sufficient assurance that adequate provision would be made to safeguard the health and welfare of [Irish] greyhounds in China at the end of their racing life.”

From 2010 through 2013, the amount of revenue from greyhound racing steadily declined, from 340 million patacas to 178 million patacas, respectively. While the decline appears to be continuing in 2014, this does not change the fact that no Australian dog survives the Canidrome. Once their usefulness gives way to injury or age, there is no way out for these dogs. You may read a report about this situation at RescueBrooklyn.org.

As long as greyhound racing continues in China, greyhounds will suffer. Please help end the unnecessary killing of Australian greyhounds on Macau. Issue a moratorium to protect Australian greyhounds now.